Senior Product Designer (6 Month Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (6 Month Contract) Company: Aviva Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada (with potential for Markham and Oakville) Job Type: Contract Category: Product Design Operations Date Posted: August 5, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This Senior Product Designer role focuses on enhancing user experiences for Aviva's customer-facing websites, requiring a blend of creative design, user research, and technical implementation.
• The position involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Customer Experience professionals, and engineers, to ensure user needs are central to product development.
• Key responsibilities include conducting comprehensive user research, translating insights into actionable design solutions (wireframes, mock-ups, prototypes), and advocating for user-centricity throughout the product lifecycle.
• A significant aspect of the role involves designing and building web pages using Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), necessitating experience with design systems and potentially front-end development within the AEM framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Product Designer," the responsibilities and required experience suggest a role that bridges design strategy with practical implementation, particularly within the AEM platform. This implies a need for candidates who not only excel in user-centered design principles but also understand the technical nuances of content management systems and web development for enterprise-level applications. The 6-month contract nature suggests a project-focused engagement, likely involving the development or enhancement of specific digital products or platforms.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Senior Product Designers, Product Managers, Customer Experience teams, and engineers to iterate on designs based on feedback, ensuring seamless integration into the development pipeline.
• Act as a primary advocate for the user's perspective, ensuring user needs and pain points are identified, understood, and addressed throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation to launch.
• Conduct user research utilizing a diverse range of methodologies, including user interviews, surveys, usability testing, heuristic evaluations, and ethnographic studies, to gather qualitative and quantitative data.
• Translate user research findings and business requirements into tangible design artifacts, such as wireframes, user flows, mock-ups, and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.
• Design and build functional B2C and B2B related web pages within the Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) platform, adhering to established design systems and brand guidelines.
• Maintain a strong awareness of current industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in Product Design, User Experience (UX), and digital product development to inform design decisions.
• Provide constructive feedback to collaborators at various organizational levels, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and design excellence.
• Ensure all designed experiences adhere to web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), promoting inclusivity and usability for all users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility of "Design and build B2C and B2B related pages in AEM" is a critical technical requirement that goes beyond typical senior product design roles. This suggests the need for a designer with a strong understanding of content management systems and how designs are implemented, or even hands-on experience with AEM content authoring. The mention of "Front-end development experience in AEM" as optional but beneficial further reinforces this.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected. Equivalent practical experience and a strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education in design roles.

Experience:

• Proven experience (5-10 years recommended) in Product Design, User Experience (UX) Design, or a closely related role, with a demonstrated track record of creating impactful digital products.
• Experience working with and contributing to established design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across product interfaces.
• Hands-on experience designing and building web pages or components within Adobe Experience Manager (AEM).
• Demonstrated proficiency in applying a variety of qualitative and quantitative user research methods to gather insights and validate design decisions.
• Experience in creating detailed wireframes, user flows, mock-ups, and interactive prototypes using industry-standard design tools.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Expertise in the end-to-end product design process, from concept to execution.
• User Research: Proficiency in conducting user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and analyzing research data to inform design.
• Wireframing & Prototyping: Skill in creating low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar.
• Design Systems: Experience working with, contributing to, or managing design systems for consistency and scalability.
• AEM (Adobe Experience Manager): Practical experience in designing and potentially building web pages or components within the AEM platform.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to dissect complex problems, analyze user data, and develop effective design solutions.
• Communication & Presentation Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and present work to stakeholders.
• User-Centered Design: A deep commitment to advocating for and incorporating user needs into the design process.
• Web Accessibility: Understanding of and experience applying web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG compliance).

Preferred Skills:

• Front-End Development (AEM): Experience with front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) specifically within the AEM development environment.
• Copywriting: Experience in crafting clear, concise, and user-friendly microcopy and content.
• Bilingualism (English and French): Fluency in both English and French is considered an asset for broader communication across Canada.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AEM experience and the optional front-end development skill suggests that candidates with a hybrid design-development understanding will be highly valued. This role is not just about pixel-perfect mockups but also about how those mockups translate into functional web pages within a specific CMS.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 detailed case studies that illustrate your process from problem definition to final solution, highlighting your role and contributions.
• User-Centricity Focus: Demonstrate how user research and insights directly influenced your design decisions and led to improved user outcomes.
• Design System Utilization: Include examples of how you have used or contributed to design systems, showcasing consistency and scalability in your work.
• AEM Implementation Examples: If possible, include examples of web pages or components you have designed or built within AEM, demonstrating your understanding of the platform's capabilities and constraints.
• Problem-Solving Articulation: Clearly articulate the challenges faced, your approach to problem-solving, and the rationale behind your design choices.
• Impact Metrics: Quantify the impact of your designs where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion, or other relevant KPIs.

Process Documentation:

• User Research Documentation: Evidence of user research methodologies applied, including participant recruitment, interview guides, usability testing plans, and synthesized findings.
• Interaction Design Documentation: Examples of user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes that clearly map out user journeys and interface interactions.
• Visual Design Documentation: High-fidelity mockups that demonstrate aesthetic considerations, typography, color palettes, and adherence to design principles and systems.
• AEM Design Considerations: Documentation or examples that illustrate how you considered AEM's component-based architecture or content authoring workflows in your design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the AEM requirement, candidates should be prepared to discuss how their design process integrates with or accounts for the technical implementation within a CMS. Portfolio pieces that show an understanding of content structure, component reusability, and the authoring experience within AEM would be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• For a Senior Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the estimated annual salary range for a contract position is typically between CAD $80,000 and CAD $120,000, prorated for a 6-month term. The exact compensation would depend on the specific skills, experience, and the extent of AEM proficiency.

Benefits:

• As this is a 6-month contract, benefits may be limited. However, typical benefits offered for contract roles in Canada can include:
  • Access to extended health and dental benefits (often through a third-party provider or a portion of the contract rate allocated for benefits).
  • Potential for paid statutory holidays.
  • Opportunities for professional development or training related to AEM or other relevant skills.
  • Networking opportunities within a large financial services organization.
  • Exposure to large-scale digital product development processes.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 37.5 to 40 hours per week. While not explicitly stated as remote, the primary location is Toronto, suggesting an on-site or hybrid work arrangement may be required, with the exact structure to be confirmed by the hiring team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for contract Senior Product Designers in the Toronto area, considering the typical experience level and the specialized AEM skill. It's important for candidates to note that contract roles often have a higher hourly/daily rate to compensate for the lack of long-term benefits and job security compared to permanent positions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Insurance) Company Size: Aviva is a large, multinational insurance company, significantly impacting the scale and scope of projects a designer might work on. This means working within established corporate structures, compliance frameworks, and with a large user base. Founded: Aviva was founded in 2000 through the demutualisation of CGU plc, with a long history tracing back to the 18th century through its constituent companies. This heritage suggests a company with established processes and a focus on long-term stability, but also one that is adapting to digital transformation.

Team Structure:

• Operations Team Context: While this role is in Product Design, it operates within a broader Digital Product or Technology division. The design team likely works closely with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Customer Experience departments.
• Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, UX Manager, or Head of Product Design, and collaborate with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product initiatives.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Expect close collaboration with Product Managers for feature definition and strategy, with Engineers for technical feasibility and implementation, and with Customer Experience specialists for user journey mapping and service design.

Methodology:

• Agile/Scrum: Given the context of digital product development, it's highly probable that the team operates using Agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban. This involves iterative development cycles, regular stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.
• User-Centered Approach: The description emphasizes user needs and research, indicating a commitment to user-centered design principles and methodologies.
• Data-Informed Decisions: While not explicitly stated, large organizations like Aviva typically leverage data analytics and user feedback to inform product decisions and measure success.

Company Website: https://www.aviva.ca/

📝 Enhancement Note: Aviva's status as a major insurance provider means that product design decisions will be heavily influenced by regulatory requirements, security protocols, and the need for clear, trust-building communication. The scale of their operations also implies a significant impact and visibility for any design work produced.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level within the Product Design discipline. It requires a significant degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor or guide more junior designers. The contract nature means it's an opportunity for experienced professionals to contribute to specific projects or initiatives. Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Head of Product, working within a product team that includes Product Managers, Developers, and QA specialists. The design team itself might be structured by product area or by discipline (UX research, UI design). Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the user experience of Aviva's digital platforms, influencing customer acquisition, engagement, retention, and operational efficiency. Well-designed customer-facing websites can lead to increased self-service, reduced support costs, and improved customer satisfaction, all of which have direct revenue and cost implications for the business.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in AEM design and development, user research methodologies, or design system management.
• Project Leadership: Potentially lead design efforts on specific features or components within the AEM platform.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience working with diverse teams across product, technology, marketing, and customer service.
• Industry Insight: Develop a strong understanding of the financial services and insurance industry's digital landscape.
• Potential for Extension/Full-time: While a contract, successful performance could lead to contract extensions or opportunities for full-time roles within Aviva.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, "growth" often means skill acquisition and project impact rather than traditional career ladder progression. Candidates should view this as an opportunity to add valuable, in-demand skills like AEM design to their portfolio and gain experience within a large, reputable financial institution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Aviva Canada likely maintains modern corporate office spaces in Toronto, potentially offering a mix of open-plan collaborative areas and private workspaces. Given the "on-site" indication, expect a professional office environment. Office Location(s): Primary location is Toronto, with mention of Markham and Oakville as alternative possibilities. This suggests Aviva has multiple locations within the Greater Toronto Area. Candidates should confirm the specific office location for this role.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Access to meeting rooms, breakout areas, and potentially open-plan seating designed to foster collaboration among team members.
• Tools & Technology: Expect standard office technology, including reliable internet, computers, and access to relevant design software and collaboration tools.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for daily interaction with design peers, product managers, and engineers, facilitating quick feedback loops and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule:

• The standard 40-hour work week is implied. While specific flexibility is not detailed, a corporate environment like Aviva might offer some flexibility in start/end times, provided core business hours and collaboration needs are met. The contract nature may limit some of the flexibility afforded to full-time employees.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement means candidates should consider commute times and the nature of the office environment. Aviva's corporate setting suggests a professional atmosphere where adherence to company policies and expectations regarding presence and conduct is standard.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager to delve deeper into experience, skills, and suitability for the role, focusing on past projects and problem-solving approaches.
• Portfolio Presentation/Design Challenge: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing specific case studies and their design process. This may also involve a take-home design challenge or an in-person/virtual whiteboard session to assess design thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with potential colleagues, including other designers, product managers, or engineers, to evaluate collaboration skills and technical understanding.
• Final Interview/Offer: A final discussion, potentially with senior leadership, followed by an offer if successful.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest case studies that best represent your skills for this specific role, particularly highlighting AEM experience if available.
• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your process, the solutions you designed, and the outcomes achieved. Focus on your individual contributions.
• Highlight AEM: If you have AEM experience, make it prominent. Discuss any challenges faced and solutions implemented within the AEM environment.
• Showcase Process: Detail your research methods, ideation stages, iteration process, and how you incorporated feedback.
• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs whenever possible.
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, collaboration, handling feedback, and your understanding of user needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, thoroughly read and understand the prompt, identifying key constraints and objectives.
• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively, prioritizing critical steps like research, ideation, and solution development.
• Communicate Your Thinking: Clearly articulate your assumptions, design decisions, and rationale as you work through the challenge.
• Focus on Process: Even if the final output isn't perfect, demonstrating a strong, user-centered design process is often more important than a flawless visual design.
• AEM Context: If the challenge involves web pages, consider how it might relate to a CMS like AEM in terms of componentization or content structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: Emphasize the AEM aspect in your portfolio and interview responses. If you have direct AEM experience, highlight it. If not, draw parallels to other CMS platforms or discuss your understanding of content management principles and how you would adapt your design process to an AEM environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

The role requires proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, as well as familiarity with content management systems.

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, or similar for wireframing, mock-ups, and interactive prototyping.
• Adobe Experience Manager (AEM): Essential for designing and building web pages. Experience with AEM's content authoring interface and understanding of its component structure is key.
• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com), surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics), and data analysis.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to understand user behavior on websites.
• Data Analysis Tools: Basic proficiency in spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets) for analyzing research data or performance metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how customer data flows into and influences website design can be beneficial. Familiarity with how different systems integrate can aid in designing cohesive user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong understanding of AEM is a critical differentiator for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their level of expertise with AEM, including any experience with its components, templates, and authoring workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Care: Demonstrating empathy for users and colleagues, ensuring designs are inclusive and meet user needs thoughtfully.
• Commitment: Dedication to delivering high-quality, user-centered designs within project timelines and to the highest standards.
• Community: Fostering a collaborative environment, sharing knowledge, and supporting team members to achieve collective goals.
• Confidence: Approaching design challenges with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset and confidently advocating for user needs and design best practices.
• Data-Driven: Utilizing user research and analytics to inform design decisions and measure the impact of solutions.
• Efficiency: Designing with an eye towards usability, maintainability, and efficient implementation, particularly within the AEM framework.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Teamwork: Working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and CX professionals in an Agile environment.
• Iterative Design: Embracing feedback and iterating on designs through collaborative reviews and testing.
• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in design critiques, sharing insights from user research, and contributing to the team's collective knowledge base.
• Open Communication: Maintaining transparent and open communication channels to ensure alignment and address challenges proactively.

📝 Enhancement Note: Aviva's values of Care, Commitment, Community, and Confidence are likely integrated into their performance reviews and day-to-day operations. Candidates should consider how their own work style and approach align with these core principles, especially in how they collaborate and advocate for users.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• AEM Integration: Designing effectively within the constraints and capabilities of the Adobe Experience Manager platform, especially if full-stack AEM development experience is limited.
• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Navigating the complexities of corporate objectives, regulatory requirements, and user expectations to find optimal design solutions.
• Fast-Paced Contract Environment: Adapting quickly to project requirements, timelines, and team dynamics within a 6-month contract period.
• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for design decisions across various departments and stakeholders.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AEM Expertise: Gaining or deepening practical experience with AEM, a widely used enterprise CMS.
• Financial Services UX: Developing specialized knowledge in designing for the financial services and insurance industry.
• Large-Scale Projects: Contributing to products used by a significant customer base, offering valuable portfolio experience.
• Professional Networking: Building connections within a large, established organization like Aviva.

📝 Enhancement Note: For candidates new to AEM, this contract offers a prime opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Focus on learning the platform's structure and best practices for design implementation during the initial phase of the contract.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: Be ready to walk through your design process for a complex project, emphasizing user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration. How do you ensure user needs are met?
• AEM Experience: Discuss your experience with AEM. What are the challenges and benefits of designing within AEM? How do you approach designing for a CMS? If you lack direct AEM experience, discuss your experience with other CMS platforms or your understanding of component-based design.
• Collaboration: Describe a time you had to work with challenging stakeholders or engineers. How did you manage feedback and ensure alignment?
• Problem-Solving: Prepare to discuss a complex design problem you solved. What was the problem, your approach, and the outcome? How did you measure success?
• User Advocacy: How do you advocate for the user when business priorities conflict with user needs?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Aviva Values: Research Aviva's values (Care, Commitment, Community, Confidence) and think about how your work and approach align with them.
• Financial Services: Consider the unique aspects of designing for financial services – trust, security, clarity, and regulatory compliance.
• Team Dynamics: How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment? What is your preferred working style with developers and product managers?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Project background, problem statement, your role, research and insights, design process (sketches, wireframes, prototypes), solutions, and outcomes/impact.
• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals. Make sure any interactive prototypes you showcase are functional and clearly demonstrate the user experience.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure you cover key points efficiently.
• Engagement: Be prepared to answer questions throughout your presentation or at the end, showing your thought process and adaptability.
• AEM Focus: If you have AEM-related work, dedicate specific time to explain your contributions and understanding of the platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: Tailor your portfolio presentation to highlight the specific requirements of this role, especially the AEM component. If you have less direct AEM experience, focus on transferable skills like component-based design, understanding technical constraints, and collaborating closely with development teams.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://aviva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Toronto/Senior-Product-Designer--6-Month-Contract-_R-158788
• Portfolio Preparation: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating user research, wireframing, prototyping, and ideally any experience with AEM or similar content management systems. Ensure case studies clearly articulate your process and impact.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to highlight keywords such as "Product Design," "UX Design," "User Research," "Wireframing," "Prototyping," "Design Systems," "AEM," "Adobe Experience Manager," and any relevant front-end development skills. Quantify achievements with metrics where possible.
• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail, practice answering common design interview questions, and research Aviva's company culture and values to articulate your fit.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Aviva Canada's digital presence, their services, and recent news to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their business context.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.